Circuit controller



A ril 22, 1924. 1,491,532

W. H. HOLDER CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 6, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet lApril 22 1924.

w. H. HOLDER cmcum' CONTROLLER Filed Dec. 6, 1918 2 shuns-sheet 2Patented Apr. 22,1924.

. (UNITED{STATES1 WILLIAM H. notnnltor MILWAUKEE, wisconsm, ASSIGNOR Trm: CUTLER-HAM;

I 1,491,532 PATENT OFFICE.

. MER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE; WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF'WISCONSIN.

cmcorr CONTROLLER.

" Application aied'ne mbere, 1918. Serial No. 265,517.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that 1,;VV1LL1MI H. HoLnEu, a citizen of the'UnitedStates.residing at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in CircuitControllers, of which the following is a full, clear, con cise. andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,

forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to circuit controllers and more particularly tocontrollers for motor driven devices operating between predeterminedlimits. v

Among the objects'of the invention is that of providing a controllereffective to limit operation of the controlled device to a predeterminedrange and, also operable at will for starting, stopping and reversing ofthe controlled device within the range limits thereof.

A further object is to provide a controller of the aforesaid characterwherein provision is made to insure against restarting of the-controlleddevice in the same direction following attainment of its limit in thatdirection and prior to actual movement thereof in the reverse direction}A still furtherobject is that of roviding "a controller of thecharaotera orestated wherein a single swjitch mechanism is adapted to perform allrequisite functions thereof, which mechanism .may also be readilyadapted without modification of its permanent structure to usein otheranal.o-.

gous' control systems. I "arious other ob ects and advantages of the inention will hereinafter appear.

Thea ccompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of the inventionparticularly a 'Jplicable totrucks having platforms to be raised andlowered byelectric motors and the same will now be described. it beinghowever. understood that the capabilities of the invention are in nowiselimited to the use but taken at a different angle;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the switch mechanism; Y

Fig. 4 is an'elevational view operating mechanism;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of portions of the switch operatingmechanism;

7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the controller forstarting and limiting a reversible motor; and.

Fig. 8 is a similar view illustrating the applicability of the controlswitch to systems wherein the motor is non-reversing.

Referring to Fig. 1,.the controller comprises a switch including contactmembers 1 and 2 fixed to a shaft 3, amember 4 mounted on the shaft 3 toslide axially thereof but to rotate therewith, a member 5 rotatablymounted on the shaft 3 and movable either manually or otherwise betweenan intermediate off position and extreme on positions, and a releasableconnection between the members 4 and 5,.

of the switch Said connection includes pawls 6 x and 7' (Figs. 5 and 6)which are carried by th member 5 and arranged to engage the member 4tsubJect to disengagement therefrom selectively upon movement of saidmember and 11 to be respectively engaged by the awls 6 and 7, each ofwhich is provided with a blade-like extremity disposed at right anglesto said member. Thus each pawl is adapted to engage its respective lugof the member lthrough a given portion of the range of movement thereofaxially'of the shaft and so long asboth of said pawls en gage theirrespective lugs on the member; they afiord a connection whereby saidmemberjmay be rotated in either direction by the member 5 for reverseoperations of the switch On the other hand, the member 4 is movable inone direction to align with a notch 12 in the pawl 7 for release fromsuch pawl and in a reverse direction for release.

from the pawl 6, but the'pawlsare staggered to always insure anoperative relationship between one'of the same and said member,

and project beyond each other sufficiently to preserve such relationshipin case of overtravel of the controlled device. Hence in one axialposition the member at is released from the pawl 7 but subject tomovement in a clockwise direction through the medium of pawl 6 while inthe opposed position the member a is released from the pawl 6 butsubject to movement in a counter-clockwise direction through the mediumof the pawl 7. As will appear, the member at is biased to anintermediate angular position and accordingly assuming the aforesaidrange of axial movement of member at to correspond to the normal fullmovement of" the driven mechanism, the. connection between members 4 and5 provides for operation or the former by the latter in either directionfor corresponding operation of the switch so long as the drivenmechanism occupies an intermediate position and for automatic release ofthe member 1 and consequent return of the switch to its off positionwhen the driven mechanism attains either of its limits. Furthermore wheneither limit is reached and the member 4 is returned to its intermediateposition, the connection insures against return thereof to the positionlast occupied thereby, while providing for movement or said member, andconsequently said switch, in a reverse direction for restart ing thecontrolled mechanism in reverse. hen, however, the controlled mechanismis so restarted to move the member 4. a slight distance axially of theshaft 3 said member re-engages the previously disengaged pawl therebyagain placing the member 1} and said switch under the control of member5 for operation in either direction at will.

The member 4: is biased to the aforesaid intermediate angular positionby a lever 13 held under tension by a spring 14: and provided with aroller 15 to engage the periphery of said member which is provided withcam surfaces 16 and 17 and an intermediate notch 18. The roller rests inthe notch in the intermediate angular position of the member 4 and ridesonto one or the other of the cams when said member is moved in eitherdirection to bias the same in a reverse direction. The pawls 6 and 7 aresecured to the member 5 by bolts 19 and 20 which form pivots thereforand the free ends of said pawls are connected by a tension spring 21 toyieldingly retain the same in operative relation with respect to thelugs 10 and 11 of the member 1. In view of the rectilinear movement ofthe member 4 to disengage and re-engage the pawls it is desirable inorder to insure against possible jamming of such parts to cut away saidmember between the lugs and cam portions thereof as illustrated to clearsaid pawls. And in the event of either pawl being out of properalignment with respect to the member 4 when the latter is moved tore-engage the former the spring 21 permits such pawl to yield and slideover its respective lug for return to operative relation therewith uponrelative movement of the members a and hen the member 5 is to bemanually operated it is desirable to provide means for restraining thesame in its various positions and to this end there is provided alever22 having a roller 23 to engage the periphery of said member which hastherein a V- shaped notch 24 to receive said roller in the intermediateangular position of said member and curved notches 25 and 26 to receivesaid roller in the opposite extreme positions of said member. The spring14:, above mentioned, is also used to hold the lever 22 under tension,to this end being connected at its extremities to the two levers 13 and22.

The switch as illustrated is oi the reversing type, the contact elements1 and 2 thereof being oi the construction shown in l and 3 and beingarranged to co-operate with stationary contacts also shown in saidfigures. The contact elements 1 and 2 are of the same construction, eachcomprising a casting having three contact lugs 30, 31 and 32 and aclamping plate 3?) to secure the same to the shaft 3, said shaft beingsquare in cross section and provided with an insulating covering 3%. Thecontacts 3 and 32 are arranged substantially 9O apart and the twoelements 1 and 2 are mounted on the shaft in an opposite relation.Further, the contact lugs 31 of the two elements are provided withlateral extensions which are oppositely disposed as best illustrated inFig. 1. The stationary contacts comprise lingers 35, 36, 37 and 38arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the shaft 3. the fingers 35 and37 being disposed in the path of Cfilltfli't lugs 30 and 32 oi saidelement 1 and the fingers 36 and 98 being disposed in the path of thecorrespolniling contact lugs of element 2. Also. both fingers 35 and 536are disposed in the path of the contact lug 31 of element 1 while bothoi the fingers 37 and 38 are disposed in the path otthe correspondingcontact lugi of element 2. The contact fingers are of a well knownyielding type and the pairs thereof are respectively fixed to supports39 and 40 for insulation of each of said lingers from all of theremaining fingers.

Thus when the shaft. 3 is rotated clock wise element 1 bridges contactfingers 3" anz; 37 while element 2 bridges lingers 36 and 38 whereaswhen the shaft is rotated counter-clockwise element 1 bridges fingers 35and 36 and element 2 bridges fingers 37 and 38. Accordingly assuming useof the switch for control of a series motor as depicted in Fig. 7. saidswitch provides for reversal of the direction of flow of current in thearmature circuit of: said motor. Re-

ferri i to Fig. the motor is shown as rov ed with an armature A and aseries eld winding F, said'armature being' connected between contact'fingers38 and 35 circuit and effecting" a through the armaturewfi omright to left.

1 while said field is connected between finger 36 to one side ofthezline,'the other side of the linefbeing connected to finger '37; Withthis arrangement when the movable p contactelements which areshown inplan;

are moved to the: left, they respectively bridge fingers 37 and38 andfingers and 36fto complete the motor, circuitand to et fectfioiv ofcurrent through the armature circuit from left to right. 3 On the otherhand, when the contact elements are moved in a reverse direction.elements '1 and 2 bridge finger35iwith-finger 37 and finger 36f withfinger 38 for completing the motor flow of current 'While the mechanismabove described may be mounted in any preferred manner, the same isshown as enclosed in aicasing 42 having. a removable cover43'. L One endof the shaft 3 has a bearing 44 in one Wall of the casing and theother'end of said sha't't has a bearing inthehub of member 5 while to abracket 53 projecting inwardly from wall of said cas'i said hub has abearing45 in [an opposite (F'ig; 1). The shaft 9 is disposed atri tangles to the shaft '3 and as illustrate in Fig, ,4fhas bearings 4.6'andc47 in opposite-walls of the'vcasing.

- The levers 13: and'22 'ar'e spivotally' connected by pins 48 and49'respectively to lugs 50 a and 51 provided on thej'inside of oppositevwalls of the casin'g abovethe bearings of the shaft 9, and thesupports39and 40 v0t the contact fingers are secured by bolts 52 the .front wallof the casing.v The cover 43 comprises a sheet metal plate having struckin -1ugs5 4 and '55, (Fig.3) to snap into recesses provided in oppositewalls of the casing.

Referrin to p I v diagrammatically a circuit arrangement whereby theaforedesc'ribed switch'is adapt ed to control the continuity of circuitof y a non-reversible motorhaving a power con'-' nection with the drivendevice of such char- I acteraas to provide for operation vof latter inopposite directions I 7 From inspect on of this figure it is (obvious'that the contactarrangement is-identicalwith that of Fig." 7;, wherebywith the connections illustrated, thejswitch isoperable asaforedescribed to provide automatic stopping of the motor santlthecontrolled device upon operation thereof to the limit of movement ofthe latter in eitherdirec tion, whereas followinglsuch automatic stoppingpthe motor maybe restarted only upon movement of theswitch to itsreverse position, While between limits the switch is manually operableboth for starting and; stop- Fig 8-, the Same illustrates ping as thearrangement aforedescribed- While. the constructions aforedescribedcontemplate the directgcontrol of the motor circuit, it'is obvious thatsuitable relays may be interposed in cases where remote control isdesired or where the value of the current to be'handled renders such anarrangement necessary or desirable.

VVl atI claimas new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. In a' controller for a inotordriven device, the combination withrelatively sta-- tionary contacts, of a co-operating contact-s ingelement movable in opposite directions from an intermediate position forstarting the controlled device in opposite directions selectively andactuating means for said contacting element including variableconnections controllable for limiting the actuating power of said formermeans to unidirectionalactuation of said contacting element.

2. In acontroller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary cont-acts, of a co-operating contacting elementmovable in opposite directions from an intermediate ofi' ositioi forstarting the controlled device in opposite directions selectively andactuating means for said contacting element including a releasableconnection, and means to act upon said connection for rendering saidformer means temporarily ineffective for actuating said contactingelement in one direction.

- 3. In a controller for a motor driven device; the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a contacting element biasedtoanintermediate off position with respect thereto and movable in eitherdirection from such position to engage certain of said contacts forstarting the controlled device in opposite directions selectively andactuating means for so moving a said contac'ting element including aconnection removement of thecontrolled device'for mov- ,ing saidcontacting elementin either direction from such intermediate position 7for starting said device in either direction subject to stopping thereofat will, said actuating means including means subject to release "uponmovement of the controlled device beyond such range of movement forrendering said actuating means temporarily ineflective toactuate saidcontacting elements in one direction only. 1

5. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a contacting element biased to anintermediate off position relative thereto and movable in eitherdirection from such position to engage certain of said contacts, andactuating means eii'ective within a predetermined range of movement ofthe controlled device for moving said contact-ing element in eitherdirection from such intermediate position for starting said device ineither direction subject to arrest thereof at will by return of saidelement, said actuating means including means operable upon movementofthe controlled device in either direction beyond such range of movementto release saidcontacting element from said actuating means for returnof the former to off position under its bias.

6. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a cont-acting element biased to anintermediate off position relative thereto and movable in eitherdirection from such positionto engage certain of said contacts, andactuating means effective within a predetermined range of movement ofthe controlled device for moving said contacting element in eitherdirection from such intermediate position for starting said device ineither direction subject to arrest thereof at will by return of saidelement, said actuating means including means operable upon movement ofthe controlled device in either direction beyond such range of movementto release said contacting element from said actuating means for returof the former to oli position under its bias and to render the lattertemporarily ineffective to return the former to the position lastoccupied thereby.

7. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a contacting element biased to anintermediate oti position relative thereto and movable in eitherdirection from such position to engage certain of said contacts, anactuating member having an operative connection with said contactingelement for moving the same in either direction from such intermediateposition for starting said controlled device in either directionselectively, and means to act upon said connection following operationof the controlled device to apredetermined limit to release saidcontacting element from said actuating member for return of the formerto off position under its bias while rendering the latter ineil'ectivefor moving the former to the position last occupied thereby pendingreverse operation of the controlled device.

8. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of an oscillatable contacting elementadapted to engage the same selectively for starting the controlleddevice in opposite directions, a relatively oscillatable actuatingmember having a releasable connection with said contacting element formoving the latter in either direction during operation of thecontrolleddevice between predetermined limits and means efi'ective uponmovement of the controlled device be yond either of said limits torelease said connection and render said actuating device temporarilyineffective for actuating said element in one direction only.

9. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a co-operating contacting element andan actuating member therefor, said element and said member having areleasable connection therebetween for causing the same to move inunison in either direction from an intermediate position for starting ofthe controlled device in opposite directions selectively, and means foreffecting release of said connection and temporarily limiting theactuating power of said member to unidirectional actuation of saidelement pending a given subsequent operation of the controlled device.

10. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination withrelatively stationary contacts, of a contacting member movable inopposite directions to engage the same selectively for starting thecontrolled device in opposite directions, an actuating member for saidcontacting member movable in opposite directions, said members having areleasable connection therebetween including means operable in unisonwith the driven device to temporarily limit the former member tounidirectional operation by the latter member.

11. In a controller for a. motor driven de vice, the combination with areversely movable contacting member, of a similarly movable actuatingmember therefor and a releasable connection therebetween including aratchet member and :1V pair of opposed pawls normally co-operatingtherewith to provide for joint movement of said reversely movablemembers in either direction, said ratchet member being subject tooperation in unison with the driven device to selectively disengage saidpawls at given limits.

12. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination with areversely movable contacting member, of a. similarly movable actuatingmember therefor and a releasable connection therebctween including aratchet member and a pair of opposed pawls biased to engage the samesimultaneously to provide for joint movement of said reversely movablemembers in either direction, said ratchet member being movable todisengage said pawls selectively.

13. In a controller for a motor driven device, the combination with areversely movable contacting member, of a similarly movable actuatingmember therefor and a releasable connection therebetween including aratchet member and a pair of opposed unidirectional operation.

pawls each adapted to provide for moving said ratchet member in onedirection, sai

pawls normally co-operating to provide for movement of said ratchetmember in either direction, said ratchet member being movable inopposite directions to disengage said pawls selectively for limitingsuch drive to 14. The combination witha member to be actuated inopposite directions, of a similarly movable actuating member therean andan operative connection between said. members including a ratchet memberadapted to drive said actuated member, a pair of opposed pawls movablewith said actuating member and each adapted to move L said lratc hetmember in: one direction and means biasing said pawls to engage saidratchet member simultaneously to provide for driving of said actuatedmember in either direction, said ratchet member being movableindependently of said actuated member in opposite directions todisengagesaid pawls selectively forinterrupting such drive in eitherdirectionselectively.

member, said connection including a ratchet member and a pair ofopposedpawls biased to engage'the same simultaneously to provide for allpositions of-the controlled device Within a given range of operation formoving and holding of said contacting member in either direction by saidactuating member at will, and means operable by the controlled deviceupon movement thereof in either direction beyond such range of operationto move said ratchet member for disengaging one of said pawls to permitreturn of said contacting member to off position under its bias.

In witnesswhereof, I have hereunto sub-' scribed my name.

WILLIAM H. HOLDER.

